Aircraft antiterrorist security system

ABSTRACT

An aircraft antiterrorist security system is provided. An intrusion resistant door system separates a pilot cockpit area from a passenger area on an aircraft. A remotely activatable personnel incapacitating system is provided that is effective for incapacitating personnel located within the passenger area. A remote control system is provided that is effective for remotely activating the personnel incapacitating system. The remote control system may comprise a manually activatable actuator located in the pilot cockpit area. In addition, or alternatively, the remote control system may comprise a wirelessly activatable mechanism for receiving control signals from a ground-based location for remotely activating the personnel incapacitating system. Alternatively or additionally, the remote control system may comprise a passenger-activatable mechanism for enabling passengers to activate the personnel incapacitating system. The passenger-activatable mechanism may require one or more simultaneous individual passenger activation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a Utility Application of U.S. provisional applicationSer. No. 60/318,723, filed Sep. 9, 2002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention pertains to an aircraft antiterroristsecurity system. More particularly, the present invention pertains to asystem for preventing terrorist personnel located in a passenger area ofan aircraft from taking control of the aircraft, and limiting the harmdone to passengers aboard the aircraft by such terrorist personnel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention is intended to overcome the drawbacks ofthe prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide asystem for preventing terrorist personnel located in a passenger area ofan aircraft from taking control of the aircraft. It is another object ofthe present invention to limit the harm done to passengers or crewmembers aboard the aircraft by such terrorist personnel.

[0004] In accordance with the present invention, an aircraftantiterrorist security system is provided. An intrusion resistant doorsystem separates a pilot cockpit area from a passenger area on anaircraft. A remotely activatable personnel incapacitating system isprovided that is effective for incapacitating personnel located withinthe passenger area. A remote control system is provided that iseffective for remotely activating the personnel incapacitating system.

[0005] The remote control system may comprise a manually activatableactuator located in the pilot cockpit area. In addition, oralternatively, the remote control system may comprise a wirelesslyactivatable mechanism for receiving control signals from a ground-basedlocation for remotely activating the personnel incapacitating system.Alternatively or additionally, the remote control system may comprise apassenger-activatable mechanism for enabling passengers to activate thepersonnel incapacitating system. The passenger-activatable mechanism mayrequire one or more simultaneous individual passenger activation.

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, the personnelincapacitating system includes at least one of a system for filling thepassenger area with an incapacitating gas such as tear gas, nitrousoxide, or the like, a system for spraying the passenger area with amovement inhibiting material such as a sticky material, expanding foamor the like, a system for introducing sound frequencies into thepassenger area effective to reduce the capacity for harm by personnel.

[0007] The intrusion resistant door may include a remotely activatablelock controllable via control signals generated by remotely locatedcontrol devices under the control of at least one of a pilot of theaircraft, a crew member of the aircraft, two or more simultaneouslyacting passengers, and a wirelessly transmitted signal generated by aground-based system. The intrusion resistant door may include asubstantially air resistant seal to prevent a personnel incapacitatinggas from entering the pilot cockpit area. Further, the intrusionresistant door may be constructed so as to be substantially bulletresistant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 schematically shows the inventive antiterrorist aircraftcontrol system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention provides a system forpreventing terrorist personnel located in a passenger area 14 of anaircraft from taking control of the aircraft. The present invention isalso intended to limit the harm done to passengers or crew membersaboard the aircraft by such terrorist personnel.

[0010] In accordance with the present invention, an aircraftantiterrorist security system is provided. An intrusion resistant doorsystem 10 separates a pilot cockpit area 12 from a passenger area 14 onan aircraft. A remotely activatable personnel incapacitating system 16is provided that is effective for incapacitating personnel locatedwithin the passenger area 14. A remote control system 18 is providedthat is effective for remotely activating the personnel incapacitatingsystem 16.

[0011] The remote control system 18 may comprise a manually activatableactuator located in the pilot cockpit area 12. In this case, the pilotcan activate the personnel incapacitating system 16 from within thesafety of the cockpit area 12. In addition, or alternatively, the remotecontrol system 18 may comprise a wirelessly activatable mechanism forreceiving control signals from a ground-based location for remotelyactivating the personnel incapacitating system 16. Thus, a groundcontrol tower can activate the personnel incapacitating system 16remotely from the ground. Safe guards, such as password protected pilotoverride or the requirement of two ground control personnel tosimultaneously activate the remote control system 18 may be in place tolimit unwarranted activations. Alternatively or additionally, the remotecontrol system 18 may comprise a passenger-activatable mechanism forenabling passengers to activate the personnel incapacitating system 16.In this case, the passenger-activatable mechanism may require one ormore simultaneous individual passenger activation. For example, toconfuse potential terrorists three or more passengers may be randomlychosen to secretly hold the remote activation device, or the remoteactivation device may be present at one or more seats. A short window ofactivation may be provided through a simple RC-type timing circuit, orthe like, so that two or more passengers must clearly intend to activatethe personnel incapacitating system. Further, a marker, such as a dye orother means, may be provided to identify the passengers who activate thesystem to discourage false activatations.

[0012] In accordance with the present invention, the personnelincapacitating system 16 may include a system for filling the passengerarea 14 with an incapacitating gas such as tear gas, nitrous oxide, orthe like. In addition, or alternatively, a system for spraying thepassenger area 14 with a movement inhibiting material such as a stickymaterial, expanding foam or the like, may be provided to preventterrorists from thwarting the system by using gas masks. A system forintroducing sound frequencies into the passenger area 14 effective toreduce the capacity for harm by personnel may also be employed. Forexample, ultra high or ultra low frequency sound may be used toincapacitate or disorient the terrorists.

[0013] The intrusion resistant door 10 may include a remotelyactivatable lock controllable via control signals generated by remotelylocated control devices under the control of at least one of a pilot ofthe aircraft, a crew member of the aircraft, two or more simultaneouslyacting passengers, and a wirelessly transmitted signal generated by aground-based system. The intrusion resistant door 10 may include asubstantially air resistant seal to prevent a personnel incapacitatinggas from entering the pilot cockpit area 12. Further, the intrusionresistant door 10 may be constructed so as to be substantially bulletresistant.

1) An aircraft antiterrorist security system, comprising: An intrusionresistant door system separating a pilot cockpit area from a passengerarea on an aircraft; A remotely activatable personnel incapacitatingsystem effective for incapacitating personnel located within thepassenger area; A remote control system effective for remotelyactivating the personnel incapacitating system. 2) An aircraftantiterrorist security system according to claim 1; wherein the remotecontrol system comprises an manually activatable actuator located in thepilot cockpit area. 3) An aircraft antiterrorist security systemaccording to claim 1; wherein the remote control system comprises awirelessly activatable mechanism for receiving control signals from aground-based location for remotely activating the personnelincapacitating system. 4) An aircraft antiterrorist security systemaccording to claim 1; wherein the remote control system comprises apassenger-activatable mechanism for enabling passengers to activate thepersonnel incapacitating system. 5) An aircraft antiterrorist securitysystem according to claim 4; wherein the passenger-activatable mechanismrequires one or more simultaneous individual passenger activation. 6) Anaircraft antiterrorist security system according to claim 1; wherein thepersonnel incapacitating system includes at least one of a system forfilling the passenger area with an incapacitating gas such as tear gas,nitrous oxide, or the like, a system for spraying the passenger areawith a movement inhibiting material such as a sticky material, expandingfoam or the like, a system for introducing sound frequencies into thepassenger area effective to reduce the capacity for harm by personnel.7) An aircraft antiterrorist security system according to claim 1;wherein the intrusion resistant door includes a remotely activatablelock controllable via control signals generated by remote controldevices under the control of at least one of a pilot of the aircraft, acrew member of the aircraft, two or more simultaneously actingpassengers, and a wirelessly transmitted signal generated by aground-based system. 8) An aircraft antiterrorist security systemaccording to claim 1; wherein intrusion resistant door includes asubstantially air resistant seal to prevent an personnel incapacitatinggas from entering the pilot cockpit area. 9) An aircraft antiterroristsecurity system according to claim 1; wherein the intrusion resistantdoor is constructed so as to be substantially bullet resistant. 10) Anaircraft antiterrorist security system, comprising: A remotelyactivatable personnel incapacitating system effective for incapacitatingpersonnel located within the passenger area; A remote control systemeffective for remotely activating the personnel incapacitating system.11) An aircraft antiterrorist security system according to claim 10;wherein the remote control system comprises an manually activatableactuator located in the pilot cockpit area. 12) An aircraftantiterrorist security system according to claim 10; wherein the remotecontrol system comprises a wirelessly activatable mechanism forreceiving control signals from a ground-based location for remotelyactivating the personnel incapacitating system. 13) An aircraftantiterrorist security system according to claim 1; wherein the remotecontrol system comprises a passenger-activatable mechanism for enablingpassengers to activate the personnel incapacitating system. 14) Anaircraft antiterrorist security system according to claim 4; wherein thepassenger-activatable mechanism requires one or more simultaneousindividual passenger activation. 15) An aircraft antiterrorist securitysystem according to claim 1; wherein the personnel incapacitating systemincludes at least one of a system for filling the passenger area with anincapacitating gas such as tear gas, nitrous oxide, or the like, asystem for spraying the passenger area with a movement inhibitingmaterial such as a sticky material, expanding foam or the like, a systemfor introducing sound frequencies into the passenger area effective toreduce the capacity for harm by personnel. 16) An aircraft antiterroristsecurity system according to claim 15; further comprising an intrusionresistant door including a remotely activatable lock controllable viacontrol signals generated by remote control devices under the control ofat least one of a pilot of the aircraft, a crew member of the aircraft,two or more simultaneously acting passengers, and a wirelesslytransmitted signal generated by a ground-based system. 17) An aircraftantiterrorist security system according to claim 16; wherein intrusionresistant door includes a substantially air resistant seal to prevent anpersonnel incapacitating gas from entering the pilot cockpit area. 18)An aircraft antiterrorist security system according to claim 17; whereinthe intrusion resistant door is constructed so as to be substantiallybullet resistant.